Survey: 34% of Swedish IT Leaders Cite Infrastructure as an AI Barrier

Digital Realty’s survey of 101 Swedish IT decision-makers found that 85% said their organization has already introduced AI initiatives or expects to do so within 12 months. At the same time, 34% cited a lack of specialized infrastructure as one of the main barriers. Globally, the share was 40%, up from 9% in 2024.

The report points to demand for computing capacity, electricity, cooling and network connections as AI moves from testing to wider use. Data location is also becoming more important: 92% of Swedish respondents said decisions about data placement are linked to their organization’s AI plans, while 89% said they are working on or exploring so-called sovereign AI. Globally, 92% link data placement strategy to AI, and 86% are working on or exploring sovereign AI.

“For AI to be used at greater scale, data centers need to meet requirements for power supply, cooling and connectivity. The infrastructure also needs to adapt to new applications and grow with business needs,” said Pernille Hoffmann, Digital Realty’s Nordic CEO.

Some 69% of Swedish respondents expect returns from their AI investments within the next two years. Globally, 63% expect returns within six months to two years. The survey covered 2,131 IT decision-makers in 19 countries and was conducted between November 2025 and February 2026.